Water dispensing system for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A water dispensing system adapted for fully integrated installation within a vehicle for use in a wide variety of water dispensing applications and uses is disclosed. The system includes a water storage tank, a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the water storage tank, a water hose having an inlet in fluid communication with the pump outlet, and a manually actuated flow control nozzle in fluid communication with the hose outlet. A vehicle fuel tank is partitioned so as to provide dual compartments capable of holding both fuel for the vehicle, and water for use with the system. The pump is preferably electrically connected to the vehicles electric power system. In an alternate embodiment, a compressed gas functions as the pumping source thereby eliminating the need for an electric pump. It has been found that using a partitioned tank to hold both water and fuel results in heating the water thereby providing the user with a source of warm water for use in any of a wide variety of purposes, such as washing the vehicle, bathing, and fire extinguishing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to water dispensing systems, and moreparticularly, to a vehicle-mounted water dispensing system for permanentinstallation and full integration into a vehicle for the purposes ofwashing and fire extinguishing by delivering water expelled underhigh-pressure.

2. Description of Related Art

Pressurized water dispensing systems are relatively common. Attemptshave been made to minimize the weight of these systems and make themportable. Accordingly, the prior art reveals a number of smallerportable pressure washing systems known to incorporate lighter motors,thereby providing a significantly less powerful stream of water than mayoften be desired for a given purpose. One application and desired usefor a pressurized water dispensing system is for washing vehicles suchas trucks and motor homes that require frequent cleaning of dirt andinsects. These devices remain heavy, however, particularly when filledwith water and fully fueled.

Because of the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art in thisfield, there is a need for a pressurized water dispensing system for usewith vehicles such as trucks, which can be permanently mounted andincorporated within such vehicles eliminating the burdensometransportation, unpacking, and setting up required by the portablesystems of prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the limitations and disadvantages in theart by providing a water dispensing system adapted for fully integratedinstallation within a vehicle. The system includes a water storage tank,a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the water storagetank, a water hose having an inlet in fluid communication with the pumpoutlet, and a manually actuated flow control nozzle in fluidcommunication with the hose outlet. In a preferred embodiment, thevehicle fuel tank is partitioned so as to provide dual compartmentscapable of holding both fuel for the vehicle, and water for use with thesystem. The pump is preferably electrically connected to the vehicleselectric power system. In an alternate embodiment, a compressed gasfunctions as the pumping source thereby eliminating the need for anelectric pump. It has been found that using a partitioned tank to holdboth water and fuel results in heating the water thereby providing theuser with a source of warm water for use in any of a wide variety ofpurposes, such as washing the vehicle, bathing, and fire extinguishing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved portable water dispensing system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water dispensingsystem adapted for full integration within a vehicle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vehiclemounted water dispensing system wherein water is contained within apartitioned fuel tank.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a truck adapted with a waterdispensing system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial detail view of the water dispensing system;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the truck adapted with the waterdispensing system depicting a detailed view of the hose and manuallyactuated flow control nozzle;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial perspective views of the mountingconfiguration for the tank and pump components;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the system;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle adapted with an alternateembodiment fire extinguishing system; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 depict a vehicle 10,adapted with a water dispensing system, generally referenced as 20,fully integrated and installed within vehicle 10. Water dispensingsystem 20 generally includes a tank 30, a pump 40, a hose 50, and a flowcontrol nozzle 60. In a preferred embodiment, tank 30 comprises apartitioned fuel tank of the type commonly found on commercial truckingvehicles. Accordingly, tank 30 includes first and second internal fluidtight compartments, generally referenced as 32 and 34, adapted forholding liquids. First and second compartments, 32 and 34, typicallycontain fuel and hydraulic fluid. It has been found, however, thattruckers hauling loads rarely use the hydraulic compartment.Accordingly, the present invention makes use of the hydraulic fluidcompartment 32 to store water.

The present invention further includes a means of pressuring the waterfor dispensing. In a preferred embodiment an electric pump 40 isdisclosed. Pump 40 is preferably an electrically powered centrifugalpump, having an inlet pipe 42 in fluid communication with the waterfilled compartment 32 of tank 30. Pump 40 further includes an outlet 44adapted for connection to an inlet 52 of flexible hose 50. Pump 40 isfurther connected to a suitable power source, such as the vehiclebattery 12, by a manual switch 46. Switch 46 is preferably mounted onvehicle 10 within proximity to a storage 14 compartment for pump 40 andhose 50. Hose 50 is preferably sufficiently flexible to allow for easeof use and coiled storage, while being sufficiently strong to containpressurized water provided thereto by pump 40. Pump 40 is preferably anelectrically powered centrifugal pump, electrically connected to asuitable power source such as the vehicle battery 12 as shown in FIG. 7.In an alternate embodiment, pump 40 may be replaced by a source ofcompressed gas in fluid communication with fluid compartment 32 so as toforce water from the compartment by pressure.

As discussed above, hose 50 has an inlet 52 in fluid communication withpump outlet 44, and further includes a hose outlet 54 adapted for matingconnection with a manually actuated flow control nozzle 60. Manuallyactuated flow control nozzle 60 is preferably a normally closed flowcontrol device including a pistol grip structure having an inlet 62adapted for connection to hose outlet 54, an outlet 64 adapted foremitting a spray of liquid, a handle 66, and a manual actuator 68.

Thus, to use the system, the user first fills fluid compartment 32 withwater, then activates pump 40 by closing on/off switch 46 therebyproviding a pressurized flow of water to hose 50 and manually actuatedflow control nozzle 60. The user is then able to direct a controlledstream of water from flow control nozzle 60 by manual actuation ofactuator 68. It has been found that using a partitioned tank to holdboth water and fuel results in heating the water thereby providing theuser with a source of warm water for use in any of a wide variety ofpurposes, such as washing the vehicle, bathing, and fire extinguishing.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict an alternate embodiment, generally referenced as70, for use in extinguishing vehicle fires. In this embodiment, apressure vessel 72 adapted with a charge valve 73 is mounted within thevehicle. Pressure vessel 72 is filled with a suitable extinguishingagent, such as water or foam, and then pressurized with a pressurizingagent, such as air or any other suitable gas. Pressure vessel 72 is influid communication with a conduit 74 having at least one fire sprinklerhead module 76. A heat sensor integrated within module 76, controls thedischarge of the fire extinguishing agent from pressure vessel 72 inresponse to temperature. In addition, the system may further include anintegrated impact sensor (e.g. accelerometer) to activate the device inresponse to impact. The primary purpose of this embodiment is to providea system capable of automatic actuation in the event of a vehicle fire.

The water dispensing system according to the present invention functionsto dispense pressurized water for a variety of purposes. It has beenfound that using a partitioned vehicle fuel tank, and particularly acompartment thereof designed to contain hydraulic fluid, as a water tankprovides a tank suitable for storing a sufficient volume of water foruse in a wide variety of applications.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. A vehicle fluid dispensing system for installation within a vehicle,said system comprising: a fluid tank; a pump having an inlet in fluidcommunication with said fluid tank and an outlet; said pump electricallyconnected to a power source; an on/off control switch for activatingsaid pump; a hose having a first end in fluid communication with saidpump outlet and a second end; and a flow control nozzle in fluidcommunication with said hose second end.
 2. A vehicle fluid dispensingsystem according to claim 1, wherein said water tank comprises a fueltank with an internal partition forming first and second liquid tightcompartments.
 3. A vehicle fluid dispensing system according to claim 1,wherein said flow control nozzle is manually actuated.
 4. A vehiclefluid dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said flow controlnozzle comprises a fire sprinkler.
 5. A vehicle fluid dispensing systemfor installation within a vehicle, said system comprising: a pressurevessel having an inlet and an outlet, said pressure vessel at leastpartially filled with a fluid and pressurized; said outlet in fluidcommunication with a conduit; said conduit in fluid communication with anormally closed valve having an outlet, said valve incorporating meansfor opening said valve in response to impact; at least one normallyclosed sprinkler in fluid communication with said valve outlet, saidsprinkler including means for opening said sprinkler in response toheat.